Electric sign



No. 626,667; Patented June I3, I899.

C. A. CHASE.

ELEGTBIG SIGN. (Application filed Hair. 29, 1599.5

(No Model.)

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m: norms PETERS u Moro-mum WASHINGTON, n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. CHASE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,667, dated June 13,1899.

Application filed March 2 9, 1 89 9.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. CHASE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Signs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric signs, and has for its object toprovide a new and improved sign of this description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,.wherein VFigure l is a face view of a sign embodying my invention, showing someof the letters in position. Fig. 2 is a back view of the sign shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detailshowing the manner of insulating the Wires at the point where they passthrough the base-board of the sign.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In carrying out my invention I provide a series of letters each made upin any desired manner of a series of electric lamps connected incircuit, theseletters being applied to a suitable base-board, so as toform a given name or design or advertisement. In many instances theletters or characters upon'the sign-board are frequently changed, as inadvertisingplays in theatres and in setting up various advertisements instores and other places. When such a scheme is contemplated, greatdifiiculty is met in utilizing the same letters by variously placingthem upon the same board to produce different names and difierentadvertising matter. WVhen the sign is permanent, this difliculty is notmet, for the electrical wires and connections when once made remainunchanged.

One of the objects of my presentinvention is to provide an electric signwherein the letters can be easily and quickly changed in position andarranged to produce different names and designs and at the same timepermit the use of the same material without injuring or mutilatin'g anyof the parts.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable base-board A, whichforms the background for the letters and upon which the letters aremounted in the desired relation to each other. This base-board isprovided with a series of slots or open spaces B B, said slots SerialNo. 710,925. (No model.)

or open spaces being preferably inclined, so that no open spaces will beapparent to observers looking at the face of the board. By incliningthese slots I am still enabled to pass the necessary connectionstherethrough and at the same time get the appearance of a substantiallycontinuous base-board. The letters may be of any suitable construction;but I have in the present instance shown them of the construction setout in my prior application, Serial No- 67 6,849. The several electriclights making up any given letter are connected together by suitableconductors. These conductors O 0 preferably pass out at the end of theletter. WVhen the letter is placed in position on the base-board, theseconductors I are passed through the proper slot or'opening to the backof the board. On the back of the board are provided the main conductorsD D,

so as to bein circuit with the main conductors.

I prefer to provide the conductors O O with suitable insulators F at thepoint Where they pass through the slots in the base-board.

It will be seen that by this arrangement I can make up any givenadvertisement or readv .ing material upon the same sign by changing anddisposing the letters in any manner desired and that this change can beeasily and quickly made Without disturbing the main electricalconnections and without in any manner mutilating or injuring thebase-board or the letters, for all that is necessary is to arrange theletters in the new position, fastening them to the face of thebase-board, and then pass the Wires O 0 through the nearest slot andconnect them to the main circuit. The great utility of this constructionin f.

'cilitating the reproduction of new signs and new advertising matterwill be readily understood by those versed in the art. It is of courseevident that any suitable electrical connections and systems may be usedand that the number and position of the slots or openings will dependupon the result desired.

I have not attempted to illustrate the many uses of this device and havesimply shown ICO one construction by means of which my in vention may bereadily understood. I therefore do not limit myself to the form,construction, and arrangement of the parts herein shown.

1. An electric sign, comprisinga base-board provided with one or moreslots or open spaces,

a series of electric lights attached to suitablesaid letters attached tothe face of the board I to form the desired sign, suitable electricalconductors attached to the hack of the board, and suitable connectionsextending from the said conductors through the slots or open spaces tothe letters, substantially as described.

3. An electric sign adapted to permit the changing of the advertisingmatter thereon, comprising a base-board provided with a series of slotsor open spaces, a series of letters made up of electric lights andattached to the face of the board in the desired relation to each other,an electric circuit attached to the back of the board and provided atsuitable intervals with devices by means of which the lamps in theletters may be connected in circuit,

conductors leading from said letters through I the slots to saiddevices, so as to connect the letters in circuit, the slots arranged topermit the connections to be made when the position a of the letters onthe board is varied without mutilating the parts.

4. An electric sign adapted to permit the changing of the advertisingmatter thereon, comprising a base-board provided with a series of slotsor open spaces, a series of letters made up of electric lights andattached to the face of the board in the desired relation to each other,an electric circuit attached to the back of the board and provided atsuitable intervals with devices by means of which the lamps in theletters may be connected in circuit, conductors leading from saidletters throughthe slots to said devices, so as to connect the lettersin circuit, the slots arranged to permit the connections to be made whenthe position of the letters on the board is vajried Without mutilatingthe parts, said slots inclined With relation to the face of the board,

substantially as described.

5. An electric sign, comprising a base-board,

-a series of letters adapted to be attached to ;the face of saidbase-board in the proper relation to each other to produce the desired.eifect, a series of electrical conductors extending across the back ofthe board and pro- }vided at intervals with suitable cut-outs, a

iseries of slots or open spaces in said board, jconductors connectedwith each of said letters, said conductors passing through the slots inthe board and connected with one of said font-outs, the cut-outs andslots so arranged that the connection can be easily and quickly Imaderegardless of the position occupied by the letter, whereby Various signsor designs imay be produced upon the same base-board ;without mutilatingthe parts.

CHARLES A. CHASE. \Vi tn esses 2 FANNY B. FAY, HOMER L. Knon'r.

